The king rang his bell violently, and his valet de chambre appeared. "Monsieur Colbert is just gone; he cannot be far off. Let him be called back!" exclaimed he.
The valet was about to execute the order, when the king stopped him.
"No," said he, "no; I see the whole scheme of that man. Belle-Isle belongs to M. Fouquet; Belle-Isle is being fortified: that is a conspiracy on the part of M. Fouquet. The discovery of that conspiracy is the ruin of the superintendent, and that discovery is the result of the correspondence with England: this is why Colbert wished to have that correspondence. Oh! but I cannot place all my dependence upon that man; he has a good head, but I must have an arm!" Louis, all at once, uttered a joyful cry. "I had," said he, "a lieutenant of musketeers!"
"Yes, sire--Monsieur d'Artagnan."
"He quitted the service for a time."
"Yes, sire."
"Let him be found, and be here to-morrow the first thing in the morning."
The valet de chambre bowed and went out.
"Thirteen millions in my cellar," said the king; "Colbert carrying my purse and D'Artagnan my sword--I am king."